Cushioning device.



H. HARDING.

GUSHIONING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.5, 1912.

9 Est um I zu w i y Y 417 85% I v 'AJGHQMM U TTE STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HARRY- HARDING, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

GUsEIoNINe DEVICE.

Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Application filed February 5, 1912. Serial No. 675,610.-

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HARRY HARDING, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cushioning Devices, which improvement is fully set forthin the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings- The present invention relates to devices for cushioning the axial thrust of vehicle wheels or the like, and an object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive construction which may be easily replaced and repaired while at the same time not occupying much space in its installed position.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain parts and combinations of parts all of which will be hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the a pended claims.

In th drawings: Figure lis a sectional 'view showing the device mounted in position to take up the axial thrust of a vehicle wheel upon its axle; Fig. 2 is a face view of the device; Fig. 3 is a side view; and Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively detail sectional views on the lines ea and bb of Figs. 3

and 2 respectively.

While the device, which may be termed a spring washer, has been esigned'for and is illustrated as mounted 1' taking up the axial thrust of a wheel on its axle, it is apparent that the device is capable of use in any place where a like condition exists.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the vehicle axle and 2 the wheel turning thereon and Y adapted for a slight axial movement relatively to the axle. The latter may be provided with a shoulder or collar 4 while the hub of the wheel 2 is provided with an annually formed flange 3 which fits about the collar on the axle and forms a chamber or pocket 5 for the reception of the device. It is apparentthat it is not necessary to this invention that the wheel turn on the axle, as any construction in which the wheel moves axially relatively to the axle will serve the same function.

The spring Washer, which is housed within the chamber 5 and thereby protected from dust, may comprise two annular or ringshaped members or disks 6 having resilient means interposed between them, said disks surrounding the axle 1 and abutting both said axle andthe wheel. Preferably the disks are guided for movement in parallel planes toward and from each other by means .of telescoping posts comprising. preferably male members 7 secured to one of the disks, and female members 8 secured to the other disk, said members cooperating to produce the telescopic action, and the ends of the members 8 cooperating with the disk, other than the one by'whichthey are carried, to

limit the movement of the disks toward eachother. The resilient means in this in- ,stance is in the form of. helical springs 9 surrounding the telescoping posts and abutting at their ends the disks 6. With this arrangement, the springs lie' in an annular series surrounding the axle and it is possible by varying the strength of the springs to obtain any desired cushioning efiect, the annular series permitting a maximum cushioning action to be obtained.

When this invention is applied to the wheels of an automobile or other vehicle, it is apparent that the shockproduced in quicklyturning corners will be reduced to a minimumand in this way the wear on the and an annular series of coiled springs surposts of the other disk, and coil springs surrounding the posts and disposed about the rounding the telescoping posts with their 10 axle. ends abutting the disks. 1

2. A device for cushioning the axial HARRY HARDING thrust of a Wheel, comprising-Em pair of an nular disks, aiplurality of posts projecting Witnesses: v laterally from opposing faces of the disks, I'IAROLD-H. SIMMS,

the posts of one disk telescoping within the ADA-M. WHITMQRE. 

